Numerical investigations of heavy ion driven plasma wakefield acceleration

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of heavy ion beams to generate high-amplitude plasma wakefields, demonstrating their potential for efficient and stable particle acceleration in plasma-based accelerators.

Contribution

First simulation study of heavy ion beam-driven plasma wakefield acceleration, showing stable wakefields up to 6 GV/m with potential for electron acceleration.

Findings

Heavy ions can excite stable, high-amplitude wakefields up to 6 GV/m.

Heavy ion beams are promising drivers for plasma wakefield acceleration.

Simulations indicate potential for scalable electron acceleration.

Abstract

Plasma-Based Acceleration (PBA) has emerged as a promising approach to achieve ultra-high gradient particle acceleration. While extensive PBA studies have been conducted using laser, electron, and proton drivers, significant challenges remain in achieving high efficiency, stable acceleration, and scalable energy gain. Meanwhile, due to their higher beam charge density, heavier particle mass and higher kinetic energy, heavy-ion beam drivers represent an interesting direction in PBA research. In this paper, the plasma wakefield acceleration driven by heavy ion beam is studied for the first time, aiming to find the best mechanism for generating high-amplitude wakefields. Using the high intensity, high energy heavy ion beams provided by the High Intensity heavy-ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF), our simulations show that heavy ions can excite stable, high-amplitude plasma wakefields up to 6 GV/m, suitable for electron acceleration. These results show good performance of heavy ion beam drivers and their potential as a viable and promising approach in the field of PBA.